Blog – November 2009

Our festival – & 10 am High Mass was a musical extravanganza! As usual, we had bagpipes to take us in & out. They also accompanied “Amazing Grace” after Communion – a new innovation. We sang the offertory hymn (Hark the Sound of Holy Voices) to a tune written by our organist, Bob MacLeod, which he has dedicated to our congregation. I preached one of my best All Saints’ sermons – & I have preached quite a lot in 30 years! HC visits after Mass, then lunch at the wedding family’s home. Real tacos & lots of compliments about yesterday’s Nuptial Mass. Back to church for 5 pm Evensong & Benediction, at which we sung Bob’s tune again! 75 present – the conclusion to a delightful day 🙂

Mon 2 All Souls’ Day

I had a relaxing day off, said the 6 pm Requiem Mass & then watched “North by North West” on TV.

Tues 3

Busy morning in the office – lots of calls for financial assistance. HC visit in the a/noon & dinner with parishioners at 6 pm.

Thurs 5

This morning I drive to Placentia, in LA, for SSC chapter. I was celebrant & homilist. When I got there I saw that on the car dashboard the “anti lock” light was on. I consulted the manual, which told me to get the car to a Volvo dealer! After the meeting I drove back to SD (praying that nothing would happen to the car!), arriving at my auto repair shop at 3 pm. They discovered that the alternator belt had come off. So they fixed it & I collected the car at 5 pm!

Fri 6

2 Aussie guests arrived yesterday, Nigel & Alison. Nigel helped run my youth group when I was a young priest way back in 80/81….haven’t seen him for 28 years! Tonight I will show them the church & take them out to dinner. Meanwhile, usual Friday things. We laughed during bible study at a most appropriate gospel for Pledge Sunday – the window’s mite. I was pleased with the end result of my semon, helpd by the bible study (as it often is).

Sat 7

After 9 am Mass I ran off new copies of the offertory hymn as an insert for High Mass……I discovered bad mistakes in the bulletin! At 11 am I am taking the Aussies to Ocean Beach, etc. HC visit at 4 pm.

Sun 8 Pledge Sunday

Today everyone brings their pledge & they are offered during Mass. I will be hoping for a good result! This a/noon I go away for 3 days – Wed is Nov 11, veterans day. The holiday gives me a chance for me to visit a priest who has been in trouble. Even priests need comfort & support (esp priests!!)

Thurs 12

I had a nice 3 day break. Saw the musical “South Pacific” – gr8 songs! Weather delays caused me to miss my flight home, but United rebooked me & I got back at 12 midnight. Office has been quiet all week. Now for a busy a/noon & evening.

Fri 13

As always, a happy morning. Bible study was fun as we tackled readings about end of the world. In the a/noon I wrestled with the readings for my sermon. The 2nd coming is a very unpredicable subject – literally! In the evening I had 2 parishioners over for dinner.

Sat 14

Monthly Societies of Mary today: Rosary, Mass & a lovely lunch. In the a/noon I have some HC visits, then the usual quiet Saty night

Sun 15 – Pent 24

Another lovely sunny day in SD! Good attendances, with several visitors. Excellent music & hymn-singing at 10 am. In the evening I went to see the new movie, 2012 – which I mentioned in my sermon.

Mon 16

What do I do when I have my day-off at home? Catch up with emails & household chores in the morning, then to Balboa Park for a few hours. We are so fortunate to have such a lovely park in the heart of our city. Later I had drinks with a parishioner & then watched a 2.5 hour movie on TV.

Tues 17

My 1st job is to write thank-you notes to all who have pledged……72 thus far. I do it in my hand-writing, to show it is personal. Jim will give me the total later – I am anxious to see how we are going. After Mass I meet with Terry. Vestry at 7 pm.

Wed 18

A busy morning, then 2 HC visits. During the 1st I started to sniffle. No dogs or cats in the house, tho! Went home, kept warm & drank brandy!

Thurs 19

A quiet day today – very unusual. Time to catch up on emails & letters….yes some people still write letters to me! 6 pm Mass followed by confirmation class.

Fri 20

Usual busy Fri morning, followed by sermon prep at home. At 7.30 pm we have a concert in the church – Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, by Grossmont Symphony & Master Chorale. It should be gr8 – will it be petite or solemn, or both!

One of our gr8 festivals! Good attendance at 8 am (51 communicants). Excellent music at 10 am, incl the motet Exsultate Justi by Viadana & 2 hymns I have introduced at All Saints’ – Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour & Hail Redeemer, King Divine (sung to “See Amid the Winter’s Snow”). At the end of High Mass we had the traditional Eucharistic Procession & Benediction. I wonder how many churches do this? Afterwards I had a meeting of the Personnel Review c/tee. After a pastoral visit at 2 pm I spent a few hours wandering around Morley Field – somewhere I had not visited yet!

Mon 23

My day-off & a beautiful sunny day. So I drove to Julian – another new discovery.

Tues 24

Another sunny day! Everyone is busy shopping for Thanksgiving. The parish office is busy, too

Wed 25

Today is the feast of St Katherine of Alexandria – the patron of my 1st parish 81/85. I remember my happy years there. I was supposed to be having lunch today with Canon Howard Smith from the diocese, but he had to cancel.

Thurs 26 Thanksgiving Day

Solemn Mass at 9 am – then I flew to DC for 2 days, to visit the White’s. I am looking forward to seeing them in their new home!

Fri 27

In the morning I visited the Freer gallery (part of the Smithsonian) to see the famous Peacock Room, & the American History Musem, where I saw an exhibition of shop-front Christmas displays & Julia Child’s kitchen. I got caught in the rain & now have sniffles! In the a/noon I caught the subway to the White’s. We had a lovely time & beautiful dinner.

Sat 28

Flew back at 12.30 pm via Chicago – upgraded to 1st class all the way! All flights early, with friendly flight attendants

Sun 29 Advent Sunday

Fr Krulak celebrated 8 am Mass to commemorate his 47th anniversary of priesting. He also preached at both Masses. Good attendances fr Thanksgiving w/e. Excellent music at 10 am. It rained overnight, but sun is out this morning. However drama after 10 am – the office safe had been raided during High Mass & the 8 am collection stolen. So poIice were called, amidst much hand-wringing by everyone. After a HC visit I thought how to respond to this. I emailed various parishioners who would have been affected & decided to phone others tomorrow. We need better security!

Mon 30

Various chores in the morning (washing, gym, shopping) then to the church at 11 am to follow-up the burglary. Terry, George, Ralph & I discussed security & arranged new master-keys. Lunch with canon Howard Smith, then phoned 20 parishioners I had not been able to email about their offerings. At 3 pm went home to start on my Christmas letter. In the evening I watched “Into the Storm” – a BBC movie about Winston Churchill 1940-45.